John M. Lewis was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Raleigh, NC. The service begins with the performance of a bell choir (00:00-01:28). The speaker gives announcements about fasting for world hunger (01:29-02:35). Another speaker gives a word of prayer based off Psalm 131 (02:36-04:50). John M. Lewis is introduced as the chapel speaker (04:51-06:03). The choir sings the anthem (06:04-08:29). Lewis begins his sermon by reading from Luke 10:38-43 (08:30-09:53). Lewis speaks about the importance of the posture of sitting at the feet of Jesus, and he lists the things required to learn when in the presence of Jesus our master (09:54-27:33). Lewis ends the service with a word of prayer (27:34-29:20).
Garland Alford Hendricks was Visiting Professor of Church-Community Development. Hendricks begins his sermon by speaking about the future of ministry in a chaotic world (00:00-05:40). Hendricks walks through the four protection plans offered by the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, and he shares his personal stories of how the Annuity Board has been a help to him in his retirement years (05:41-20:12). Hendricks concludes his sermon by urging the audience to take advantage of the Annuity Board plans early in their life of ministry (20:13-22:43). Hendricks ends the service with a word of prayer (22:44-23:32).
Horace W. Lariscy was the pastor of Knotts Grove Baptist Church. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Deuteronomy 32:1-4 and Ephesians 4:4-6 (00:00-01:31). The speaker reads from Hebrews 9:24-28, and a word of prayer is given (01:32-04:22). The choir sings a song of worship (04:23-07:33). Lariscy begins his sermon by recognizing all those who took part in the service who are members of his church (07:34-11:33). Lariscy’s sermon is about the family of God in Hebrews 9:24-28, and he says that Christ died and will return for the family of God (11:34-22:05). The service ends with a prayer and benediction (22:06-22:53).
Elizabeth B. Barnes was Assistant Professor of Theological Studies. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:37). Dean Morris Ashcraft gives a word of prayer (05:38-07:16). Elizabeth B. Barnes is introduced as the chapel speaker (07:17-08:16). The choir sings the anthem (08:17-12:09). Barnes reads from the book of Numbers the account of the spies entering the land of Canaan, and she reminds the audience that God is their strength and fights for us against the giants of our day (12:10-27:26). Barnes ends the service with a benediction (27:27-27:50).
Peggy Haymes was a senior M.Div. student and interim pastor of Beth Car Baptist Church in Halifax, VA. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-02:09). Peggy Haymes begins her sermon with a Scripture reading from Isaiah 40:18-31, and she gives a word of prayer (02:10-05:08). Haymes preaches on the theme of patience, and she speaks about how God’s people waited on the Lord and the promise of Christ’s presence (05:09-21:58). Haymes ends the service with a word of prayer and a benediction (21:59-22:59).
• James E. Hightower was the editor of Proclaim Magazine in the Church Administration Department of the Sunday School Board. The lecture begins with James Hightower being introduced as the conference lecturer (00:00-02:37). Hightower lays out the topics of his lecture (02:38-05:13). In his first topic, Hightower walks through the Christian liturgical calendar year, and he argues that preaching around the events of Jesus’ ministry is beneficial for the church (05:14-25:07). In his second topic, Hightower gives a method of preaching through the Bible chronologically (25:08-30:39). In his third topic, Hightower gives a method of preaching through the civil and denominational calendar, and he says that calendars are a great way to know in advance what the topic or sermon text will be for Sundays throughout the year (30:40-46:02). Hightower opens for questions, and the first question is about the benefits of using a lectionary (46:03-50:22). The second question is about spiritual growth through using the lectionary, and the lecture ends with Hightower giving a word of thanks to the audience (50:23-52:12).
Nancy Ferree was the Assistant Campus Minister at Duke Chapel. The service begins with organ music (0:00-5:22). There is a Scripture reading (5:23-6:05). Prayer concerns are shared with the congregation and there is a moment of prayer (6:06-10:02). Nancy Ferree is introduced as the chapel speaker (10:03-10:34). Ferree expresses her appreciation for being asked to speak (10:35-10:09). She reads from James 2:14-17 and Mark 8:27-38 (10:10-14:06). Ferree speaks about people living up to titles they have and the disgrace they bring upon themselves if they do not live up to the titles they own (14:07-17:35). Ferree shares that in the Scripture on which she is teaching, Jesus and the disciples speak about Jesus’ title: the Christ (17:36-19:56). She explains that it’s easier to envision a great Messiah to come rather than to see the Jesus of the New Testament as the Son of God (19:57-20:10). Ferree shares of someone in her life who has exemplified the work of Christ and doing so for Christ’s glory instead of one’s own (20:11-26:25). She charges the seminarians to humbly and carefully examine their character and desire in ministry and to remember they each have an invaluable contribution to the church (26:24-27:25). She shares about a friend of hers who was a female minister in order to show that one should look past one’s title (27:26-28:57). The service ends with a charge for the students (28:58-29:16).
Clyde E. Fant, Jr. was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Richardson, TX. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:41). The speaker gives a word of prayer (04:42-05:25). Clyde E. Fant, Jr. is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (05:26-08:18). The choir sings a song of worship (08:19-10:11). Fant’s lecture is entitled “The American Pulpit, Another Victim of Recent Bad History,” and he begins with Richard Baxter and John Bunyan of the Puritan tradition whose preaching were characterized as lively and personable yet legalistic and rigid (10:12-18:40). Fant moves to the Great Awakeners, George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, and Timothy Dwight, and he says that their preaching was defined by great flair, utilitarianism, and sometimes exploitation (18:41-33:08). Fant then examines many 19th century preachers who transformed the sermon into printed form for popular consumption, but they fell to the elegance of print (33:09-40:42). Fant concludes with the recent bad history of American preaching, and he says that preaching in modern America suffers from legalistic moralizing, which he calls the Massachusetts Bay Error (40:43-51:17). The service ends with a word of prayer (51:18-51:53).
Luther Osment was an area missionary for western North Carolina. The service opens with a presentation of special guests from Norway (00:00-00:54). Luther Osment reads from John 13:13-17, and he introduces the worship leaders (00:55-02:13). The audience is led in two songs of worship (02:14-09:41). Osment opens his sermon by sharing about the realities of mission work in the poverty-stricken region of western North Carolina (09:42-15:05). He appeals to 1 Samuel 17 where David is given Saul’s overweight armor and sword rather than the slingshot he is comfortable using as an illustration to show that churches in western North Carolina have a unique ministry, but they have been using methods that do not fit the way God made them to reach to their community (15:06-18:24). The remainder of Osment’s sermon are what he calls “smooth stone” stories of ministry in the mountain churches. His overarching theme for these stories are ministers in this region must give one hundred percent of themselves to caring for the people to be effective (18:25-29:19). Osment ends the service with a prayer (29:20-30:01).
Jack Harwell was the General Editor of The Georgia Christian Index. The service begins with a Scripture reading from John 1 and a word of prayer (00:00-00:40). The speaker reads from Micah 7, Matthew 7, and 2 Samuel 24, and he gives word of prayer (00:41-05:36). President Randall Lolley welcomes everyone to commencement, and he presents Albert Meiburg who is stepping down as Dean of the Faculty (05:37-09:40). A graduating student present the gift of a portrait to Meiburg, and Meiburg gives a word of thanks to the seminary family (09:41-11:08). Meiburg gives special recognition to students who have shown remarkable academic excellence (11:09-22:10). Lolley presents Jack Harwell as the commencement speaker (22:11-26:37). The choir sings a song of worship (26:38-30:15). Harwell recounts the stories of both Ananias’ in the book of Acts, and his sermon is about the responsibility of the called ones in obeying God (30:16-55:57). The service ends with a benediction (55:58-56:47).
